Panel match-safe



J. BERGE. PANEL MATCH SAFE,

AAAAAAA TJ\ON FILED MAY 1, 1920- 1 Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

avvve 60 foseph @er a UNITED- S ATES JOSEPH Barren, of" FLINT, MICHIGXN.

PANEL MATCH-SAFE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PATENT OFFICE.

Application filed May 1, 1920. Serial No. 378,287.

To all whom it may concern:

particularly to match safes in which the matches are normally held in aposition in which they are inclosed and protected, and hidden from view,but which safe may be readily opened to expose the matches and permitthe removal of a match from the safe for use. p

The object of my invention is to provide an improved match safe of thepanel type designed to be secured in an opening provided, in a verticalwall of any kindsuch, for example, as in the dash orinstrumentsupporting'board or other exposed surface of an automobile or similarvehicle, in an opening provided in the casing or paneling of a railwayor other coach, in an opening,

provided in a vertically disposed panel or trim member of a room, and infact any location wherein a vertically extending member or support ispresent to which the safe may be secured, and in which an opening may beprovided for the reception of the match safe.

A further object ,of my invention is to provide a match safe of thepanel type above rewill be substantiallyflush with the surface of thepanelor other support to which the same issecured, but which match safemay be readily opened and its contents exposed to permit a match to beremoved therefrom. A further object of my invention is to provide animproved match safe..which will automatically open upon the release of aholding member which acts to normally hold the same in a closedcondition; such opening movement being accomplished by a springassociated with the match safe and which spring is normally undertension, so that when the holding means is released the safe will beautomatically opened by the spring.

' vertically Afurther object of my invention is to provide an improvedmatch safe of the class or type above referred to and which isespecially adapted to receive and hold the ordinary small size box ofsafety matches, and in 'which provision is made whereby the matches maybe struck upon the box in accordance with the usual practice in usingmatches of the kind commonly referred to as safety matches.

With the above and other objects of inven Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

tion in view my invention consistsin the improvedpanel match safeillustrated in the accompanying drawing and hereinafter described andclaimed, and in such variations and modifications thereof, within thescope of the concluding claims, as will be obvious to those skilled inthe art to which my invention relates.

Referring "now to the drawing wherein the referred embodiment of myinvention is-i ustrated: a Figure 1 is a view showing my improved matchsafe as seen in elevation, and from a position in front thereof; thesame being in its closed condition and secured in place within anopening provided for its reception in a vertically extending wall,panel, or

equivalent support.

Fig. 2 is. a View showing my improved niateh safe in perspective,- andin its'open position; to permit the selection of a match and thestriking thereof upon a box provided with a striking surface andsupported within the safe.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing my improved match safe in itsclosed position, and as it would appear if viewed froma po- 1 sitionback of the panel or other support ferred to which when in its closed.position; whereby the same is supported.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 4 designates a suitablesubstantially disposed wall, panel, or other surface wit proved matchsafe is supported and secured in place, as by means of'screws 5; whilethe reference numeral 6 designates the external frame or supportingplate of the safe and the periphery of which frame extends beyond andconceals the edges of the opening within which. the match safe as awhole is secured. This frameis shown as substan tially rectangular inform although it will be appreciated that the same may be made in otherforms and may be variously embellished as regards its shape,configuration,

in an opening in which my imsurface ornamentation, and general apearance. This frame may be provided with a roughened striking surface 7upon which matches may be struck if, for example, the matches storedwithin the safe are of the friction type which may be ignited by contactwith a rough surface, as distinguished from being struck upon the boxwhich, is provided with a chemically active striking surface, as is thecase with the ordinary safety match.

The supporting frame 6 is provided with a a central opening 8, and thereference numeral means of cooperating holding membersv at a fillingblock not shown, so that when a box of matches is inserted into thereceptacle after breaking out the end of the inner container, or afterremoving the matches from the inner box and inserting them into theexterior casing thereof, the ends of, the matches will lie in a positionsomewhat above the upper end of the exterior casing of the box and maybe readily grasped to remove a match from the box.

The receptacle 9 is preferably provided with openings 12 in its' sidewalls which overlie and ermit access to the striking surfaces of t e boxof an ordinary box of safety matches held within the receptacle, so thatwhen the safe is in the open condition shown in Fig. 2 a match may beremoved from the box and struck upon the striking surface thereof. Thesafe is held closed with the receptacle 9 lying behind the frame 6 andthus hidden from view by the upper-end of the match safe; and a suitablespring is operatively associated with the receptacle 9, which spring isnormally under tension and acts to swing the safe into i the openposition in which it is shown in Fig. 2 when the holding means at theupper end of the receptacle is released.

The pivotal connection between the lower end of the receptacle 9 and thesupporting plate or frame 6 may be formed in various ways as, forexample, by providing depending arms 13 at the lower end of saidreceptacle and located at opposite sides thereof, and the lower freeends of which arms are connected with ears 14 at the ends of a suitablebar 15; a-hinge connection being provided between the said arms and earsby means Ofa pin16 extending through-holes ,embodiment of my inventionillustrated the spring 17 which tends always to move the receptacle 9outward surrounds the pin 16, and the ends 18, 19 of said spring abut,respectively, against the inner surface of the frame 6 and against oneof the arms 13; and the said arms come into contact with the innersurface of the frame adjacent the under side of the opening 8 at the endof the opening movement of the safe to thereby limit the outwardswinging movement of the receptacle 9. It will be appreciated, however,that various forms of hinge and spring mechanism, and variousarrangements thereof, maybe employed, so long as the mechanism inquestion is one which acts to bring about the swinging of the receptacleout of the 'opening8 when the match safe is to be opened.- I Attached tothe receptacle 9 or formed in- -tegrally therewith as a part thereof isav cover plate 20 which when the safe is in its closed position closesthe opening 8 intoand out of which the said receptacle swings, andlies,flushwith the exterior exposed surface of the frame 6 when the safeis closed; thereby providing amatch safe which when in its closedcondition has no projecting parts,

or at least no parts which project to a substantial extent beyondtheplane of the panel 4 or equivalent member to which the safe is secured.

In the embodiment of my invention illusof metal out free along its twosides in forming the opening 8, inward, but which guard plate may infact be otherwise provided. This guard'plate lies above the upper endsof the matches when the safe is closed andv prevents them from jumpingupward with in the box, and perhaps out therefrom if the panel in whichthe safe is secured is quite thin, due to a vibration of the vehiclewhen the safe is used in a vehicle; and the said catch 21 is providedwith a depression adjacent its free outer end which engages a projection23 at the upper end of the cover plate 20 of the receptacle 9. It willbe appreciated, however, that other forms of cooperatingholding membersmay be provided for holding the match safe in its closed condition;- solong as the eneral construction and arrangement of t e parts is suchthat when the holding means is released the spring or e uivalent openingdevice associated with t e receptacle 9 W111 act to swing trated inwhich the frame or plate 6 is made I the same out of the opening 8 ofthe plate 6 to thereby expose the matches and permit their removal anduse. 1 Having thus described and explained my invention, .1 claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A panel match safe of theclass described'comprising a supportingframe haying an opening; a swinging receptacle open at its upper end andadapted to move into and out of the opening in said frame, and the sidewalls of which receptacle are proyided with openings; two oppositelylocated arms depending from the lower end of said receptacle; two earscarried by said frame and located below the lower end of the openingtherein; a pivot in extending through holes provided in said arms and insaid ears and whereby said receptacle is pivotally connected with saidframe; a spring. surrounding said pin and the ends of which bearrespectively against said receptacle and against the inner surface ofsaid frame; a

cover plate carried by said receptacle and adapted to close the openingin said frame and to lie substantially flush therewith when the matchsafe is closed; and a holding member carried by said frame and locatedadj acent the upper end of the opening therein, and which holding memberis adapted to engage the upper end of, said cover plate to thereby holdsaid receptacle in place within said opening against the actlon of saidspring and the match safe in its closed condition.

2. A panel match safe of the class described comprising a supportingframe having an opening; a sw nging receptacle the .upper end of whichis open, and which re- 'ceptacle is adapted to swing into and out fromsaid opening; two oppositely located arms at the lower end of saidreceptacle; two cars spaced apart from one another and located below thelower end of the opening in said frame; a pivot pin extending throughholes provided in the extremities of said arms and said ears; 2. springsurrounding said pin and the'iends of which act against said frame andagainst said receptacle, and which spring normally tends to swing saidreceptacle out-of said opening; and holding means located adjacent theupper end of the opening in said-frame and adapted to hold cated at theupper end of said opening and adapted to engage said receptacle tothereby "hold the same in position within the opening of said frame, andwith its outer surface substantially flush with the surface of saidframe.

4. A panel match safe of the class described comprising a supportingframe having an opening; a swinging receptacle the upper end'of which isopen and the lower end of which is pivotally connected with said frame,and which receptacle is adapted to'swing into and out of said opening; acover plate secured to said receptacle and adapted to close the openingin said frame and to lie substantially flush therewith when the matchsafe is closed; a spring opera tively associated with said receptacleand acting to swing the same about its pivotal support out of saidopening; and means for i holding said receptacle in place. within theopening in said frame and in opposition to the action of said spring,tothereby hold the match safein its closed position.

5JA panel match s'afeof the class de-. Y

scribed comprising a supporting frame having an opening; a swingingreceptacle the upper end of which is open and the lower end of which ispivotally connected with said frame, and which receptacle is providedwith openin s in its side walls and is adapted to. swing into and outsofthe openings in said frame; means operatively associated with said recetacle and acting to swing the same out o the opening in said frame; andmeans for holding said receptacle in place within said opening and withits exterior surface substantially flush with said frame. I

6. A panel match safe of the class described comprising a supportingframe having an opening; a swinging-receptacle the upper end of which isopen and the lower end of which is pivotally connected, with said frame,and which receptacle is adapted to swing into and out of said opening;means operatively associated with said receptacle and acting to swingthe same about its point of pivotal support but of said opening; and

holding means adapted to .hold said receptacle within said opening, withits outer-'sur face substantially flush with said frame.

7. panel match safe of the class rescribed cognprising a supportingframe having an opening". a swinging receptacle the upper end of w ichisopen and the lower end of which is pivotally connected with said,frame, and which rece tacle is adapted to swing into and out of saiopening; means of pivotal support out of said opening, holding meansadapted to hold said receptacle within said opening; and an inwardlyextending guard plate carried by said supoperatively associated withsaid receptacle 3 v and acting to swing the same about its point portingframe and located adjacent the upper end of the opening aforesaidprovided therein. 1

8. A panel match safe of the class described comprising a snpportingframe having an opening; a swinging receptacle the upper end of which isopen and the lower end of which is pivotally connected with said frame,and which receptacle is adapted 19 to swing into and out of saidopening; holding ineans adapted to hold said receptacle in place withinsaid opening when said receptacle is swung thereinto and the safe isclosed; and a relatively stationary guard plate located adjacent theupper end of said opening and overlying the l pper end of saidreceptacle when the safe is closed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

f JOSEPH BERGE.

